LBUSD board candidates differ on budget choices

LONG BEACH - The two candidates who are vying for the District 2 seat on the Long Beach Unified School Board have different takes on how to see the district through tough financial times.

Ricardo Linarez, a public servant and former Marine, is challenging incumbent and retired educator Felton Williams in the April 10 election. District 2 encompasses neighborhoods including the Westside, Wrigley and portions of Central Long Beach.

Linarez, a 36-year-old married father of two, said he'll work to keep budget cuts away from the classroom if he's elected to the school board.

"I think we could have done a better job last year in looking at the budget and prioritizing what should be cut," he said. "We didn't need to lay off so many teachers."

Williams, the current board president, said the board has made tough but necessary choices in recent years.

"The decisions haven't been easy and they haven't been popular, but we have to make these hard decisions to keep the district financially stable," he said. "The bottom line is we have to balance the budget."

Last year, the district laid off nearly 800 employees, including mostly teachers.

In 2010, the board voted to lay off a round of school counselors that included Williams' 44-year-old daughter Sonia, a single mom. Williams had to recuse himself from the vote.

Though Long Beach Unified has seen deep budget cuts, Williams said schools in his district are still showing great academic gains.

Six out of 10 elementary and K-8 schools in District 2 have surpassed the state target of 800 on the Academic Performance Index.

Some of the schools have shown progress, despite serving a large number of disadvantaged students. Lafayette Elementary has an API of 860, while Butler Middle School had a 49-point API gain last year for a score of 700.

Williams credits the growth to the district's professional training and support for teachers.

"The numbers show that we continue to have progress here in Long Beach despite the budget challenges," he said.

Linarez said board members should take a closer look at the budget and cut other costs, such as travel and conference expenses, before cutting teachers.

He became concerned about the state of public education when Lafayette Elementary, which his daughter attends, lost nearly half of its teachers to layoffs last year. The candidate said he wants to have an open dialogue with the community and listen to parents' comments and concerns.

"I think I have a well-balanced background and the courage to hold the district accountable," he said. "We need somebody who's going to question what the district is doing. Board members can't just be a rubber stamp for anything that comes up."

Linarez, who works as a field deputy for Long Beach Councilman Steven Neal, grew up in Long Beach and joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Lakewood High School.

After serving as a Marine for eight years, Linarez got involved in the community, serving on a number of organizations, including the Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission, the Central Project Area Committee, and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

If elected, Linarez said he'll work to reduce the teacher- to-student ratio in the classroom, prepare more students for technical education and provide a safe learning environment.

Williams said he's running for a third term to help continue the school district's progress.

A 65-year-old father of two, Williams is a former dean of business and social science at Long Beach City College with more than 36 years of experience in higher education.

If re-elected, Williams said he'll work to promote after- school programs, increase parental involvement and make school safety a top priority.

Endorsements for Williams include Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, former Gov. George Deukmejian, former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill, State Sen. Roderick Wright and fellow school board members Mary Stanton and John McGinnis.

Endorsements for Linarez include the Teachers Association of Long Beach, Assembly members Warren T. Furutani and Isadore Hall III, Long Beach council members Rae Gabelich and Gerrie Schipske, and former Long Beach Harbor Commissioner Mario Cordero. For more information on Linarez, go to www.ricardolinarez.com. For information on Williams, go to www.feltonwilliams.net.